Acupuncture and Oriental medicine is a natural form of healthcare grounded in safe, effective and time tested techniques. Its growing popularity and acceptance results in more pain relief for more patients with fewer negative side effect. It also means healthier patients who live longer. By stimulating self healing through a holistic approach to wellness and prevention, AOM offers truly patient centered care.

What is acupuncture like?

Acupuncture is often described as deeply relaxing and likened to a meditative experience. People regularly fall asleep during their treatments and wake refreshed and in a calmer state of mind. Regular acupuncture treatments can be an excellent way to reduce chronic pain, alleviate stress, heal completely from old injuries and be a part of creating a healthy future for yourself.

Does acupuncture hurt?

Most people feel some sensation during acupuncture, but not necessarily pain. When hair thin needles are inserted by a trained professional, they can produce a feeling of heaviness like a dull ache or sensations such as warmth and tingling. Occasionally the sensations can be stronger.Most people find acupuncture very relaxing. In fact, you may even fall asleep during your treatment!

Is acupuncture safe?

Yes, acupuncture is extremely safe when performed by trained, licensed professionals.

Dr. Miranda Gensler's master's degree and doctoral training consists of a total of 4,555.5 hours. Additionally, she has been in practice since 2010 and has continues to receive advanced training in her areas of interest.

Dr. Gensler's master's degree in acupuncture and oriental medicine (M.A.O.M) is from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, an accredited four-academic-year program consisting of 3,334.5 total hours and 994.5 clinical hours where both Western biomedicine and Traditional Chinese medicine are taught to students. Dr Gensler's also holds a doctoral degree from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM), an accredited two-academic-year degree program that consists of 1,221 hours in length, including 551 didactic hours and 670 clinical hours. Rigorous standards and continuing education are required to maintain an acupuncture license.

Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?

Yes! Licensed acupuncturists are trained to know which points are helpful for pregnant women and which ones are to be avoided. It’s important to let your acupuncturist know if you are pregnant, or if you think you might be, so that your treatment can be as safe as possible for both mother and child. Acupuncture can help with several pregnancyrelated conditions including morning sickness, back pain, premature cervical ripening, preeclampsia (pregnancyinduced hypertension), fatigue, heartburn, constipation, breech baby and gestational diabetes.

Are Chinese herbs safe?

In the United States, unprocessed raw herbs are classified and regulated as foods by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is why Chinese medicinal herbs like garlic, ginger, and cinnamon are freely available at any local grocery store without a prescription. It is always advisable to consult with a trained herbalist so that your formula is tailored to you and your condition. This greatly increases effectiveness.

What does a treatment look like?

Acupuncture is the insertion of fine solid stainless steel needles through the skin. A typical treatment includes needling 8 to12 points chosen on the basis of the patient’s constitution and symptoms. Each session is highly customized for you and your specific health concern. Most points selected are on the limbs and head, although back and abdomen points can also be used. Acupuncturists use many approaches to address your overall health in addition to your current symptoms. Acupuncturists also employ specific diagnostic techniques such as tongue and pulse diagnosis to understand the dynamics creating your health concern. This approach means acupuncture is deeply patient centered in its approach to care.

How does it work?

“Where there is free flow there is no pain, where there is pain there is no free flow.”

Acupuncture promotes healthy circulation of blood and a reduction in inflammation, thus resolving pain. From a biochemical perspective, acupuncture analgesia is achieved by peripheral nerve stimulation that directs the brain to release endorphins, which in turn block pain pathways in the brain. "Researchers in Korea have identified a mechanism by which acupuncture stimulation at the acupoint ST36 (Zusanli) has an anti-inflammatory effect. By down regulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), acupuncture relieves systemic inflammation."http://www.healthcmi.com/…/1714-acupuncture-anti-inflammato…

The scientific evidence base for acupuncture’s effectiveness continues to grow as researchers utilize modern diagnostic measurement methods and better research methods are implemented for acupuncture trials.

It is clear that for pain conditions such a chronic low back pain, acupuncture treatment is both beneficial and safe, as seen by the following meta-analysis with positive statistical evidence:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22965186

Can acupuncture help with pain?

Yes! "Acupuncture has been recommended as a first line non-pharmacologic therapy by the FDA, as well as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in coping with the opioid crisis. The Joint Commission has also mandated that hospitals provide non-pharmacologic pain treatment modalities."Check out this recent publication on acupuncture as a first line treatment for treating acute, chronic and post-surgical pain, reducing opioid use in the U.S and treating opioid dependence.https://drive.google.com/…/0B13W8wPqccKHc3BvRmIyM1pIcDA/view

The Department of Veterans Affairs, the World Health Organization, and an increasing number health insurance providers and doctors are recognize acupuncture as an effective intervention for musculoskeletal pain. M.D's are now recommending acupuncture as a first line response for low back pain: http://annals.org/…/noninvasive-treatments-acute-subacute-c…

Dr Ben-Meir, director of Cabrini Hospital's emergency department, said the randomised controlled study of about 550 patients also found that the combination of acupuncture with standard pharmaceutical care delivered equivalent pain relief to acupuncture alone or standard care alone.http://www.smh.com.au/…/acupuncture-as-effective-as-drugs-i…

''Acupuncture was equivalent to what we defined as conventional medicine standard care, which was strong oral analgesia, such as Endone, Panadeine Forte, Voltaren and Valium,'' he said.

As a drug free intervention with demonstrated lasting results, acupuncture is a treatment for pain management without the potentially serious side effects as prescription drugs and surgery. Surgery for certain conditions may not be as effective as doctors once thought. “I think there is a placebo effect not only on patients but on doctors,” Dr. Kallmes adds. “The successful patient is burned into their memories and the not-so-successful patient is not. Doctors can have a selective memory that leads them to conclude that, ‘Darn it, it works pretty well.’”http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/04/upshot/the-right-to-know-that-an-operation-is-next-to-useless.html?smid=fb-share

Does acupuncture help other conditions?

Yes! The World Health Organization recognizes the ability of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine to treat over 43 common disorders including: Gastrointestinal Disorders, Urogenital Disorders, Gynecological Disorders, Respiratory Disorders, Disorders of the Bones, Muscles, Joints and Nervous System, Circulatory Disorders, Emotional and Psychological Disorders, including depression, anxiety, and addictions such as alcohol, nicotine and drugs. Acupuncture is often effective therapy for other chronic and painful debilitating disorders which have no clear explanation or origin.

How many treatments will I need?

Most people see a significant reduction in their symptoms after 4-6 visits for acute conditions, sometimes sooner. Acute conditions usually respond faster than chronic conditions.

For long term success it is recommended to get a series of 6 to 10 treatments 1 to 2x per week for acute conditions and 10 to 12 treatments 1 to 2x per week for chronic conditions.

After your condition resolves, a re-assessed is made and an individualized treatment plan is created to support long-term health.

A long-term treatment course is determined in part by the patient's health goals, overall health condition, the amount of time the condition has been present and the presenting symptoms of the condition.

Will insurance cover my treatments?

Inquire directly with your insurance provider or contact Stellar Healing to verify your benefits.. More and more private insurers as well as workman’s compensation programs reimburse for acupuncture treatments. In some states, VA hospitals and even Medicaid programs have coverage for acupuncture. Be sure to ask when you make an appointment.

Acupuncture is an excellent treatment method for most health issues. However, acupuncture is not meant to replace regular check-ups with a primary care physician. Please seek immediate medical care in an emergency situation by dialing 911.

Acupuncture & Oriental medicine (AOM) it is a versatile medicine that offers a wealth of healing modalities to support optimal health. AOM can be utilized both a preventative and palliative and is safe for people of all ages and at every stage of life.